Knowledge and Research

DFID’s Knowledge Activities | Communicating Knowledge | Areas of Research | New Research Strategy | Commission on Intellectual Property Rights | Enquiries

The Importance of Knowledge in Development

The 1997 White Paper on International Development recognises the importance of knowledge to achieving DFID’s objectives:

"Knowledge, research and technology underpin all our work. The elimination of poverty and protection of the environment requires improved access to knowledge and technologies by poor people. This will be achieved through continued investment in research and research capacity in developing countries and through partnerships with the science community in the UK and internationally. The outcomes of this research will be disseminated widely so that the maximum benefit can be derived from it."

The 2000 White Paper on International Development focuses on the need for research to be better targeted if it is to benefit poor people. It says that the UK Government will "help focus more of the UK and global research effort on the needs of the poor".

Specifically, it points out that

"most research and development capacity is in developed countries and is oriented to their needs. Research that benefits the poor is an example of a global public good which is underfunded. …Governments and development agencies must therefore work to create more partnerships and must also invest directly and substantially in research that benefits poor people. … Efforts must also be made to strengthen the capability of developing countries to produce, adapt and use knowledge, whether produced locally or internationally."

The 2000 White Paper also examines the issues of intellectual property regimes and developing countries. It says that the UK Government will "make intellectual property regimes work better for poor people". DFID is ready to help countries to develop and implement Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) regimes suited to their national circumstances, and is commited to monitoring the impact of Trade-Related aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs).

The UK Government has established a Commission on IPR to consider:

• How national IPR regimes should best be designed to benefit developing countries within the context of international agreements, including TRIPs;

• How the international framework of rules and agreements might be improved and developed - for instance in the area of traditional knowledge - and the relationship between IPR rules and regimes covering access to genetic resources;

• The broader policy framework needed to complement intellectual property regimes, including for instance controlling anti-competitive practices through competition policy and law.

For more information about the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, go here.

DFID spends well over £100 million each year on development-oriented research and capacity building managed by its Policy Division and country and regional programmes. DFID is fully engaged with the cross-Whitehall science and technology agenda, working closely with the Office of Science and Technology. For details of DFID's current position on Government requirements for a science and innovation policy, go here.

Communicating Knowledge

An essential adjunct to the generation of new knowledge relevant to development is its communication in relevant and accessible form. DFID is active in sharing its knowledge such that policy makers and practitioners can use it to have a positive impact on people’s lives. For useful links where development related research results can be accessed, go here

Areas of research

We do not plan to commission any new research until March 2004. During October 2003, policy orientated research bids were invited for a "responsive window" fund of £2 million with a maximum size of grant limited to £100,000. Awards for spending in 2004/2005 will be made at the beginning of March 2004.

Meanwhile, we are developing a New Research Strategy. The process has involved wide consultation with invited views on key researchable problems that could be included.

EU Sixth Framework

Social Science Research (SSR)

Education Research

Infrastructure and Urban Development Research

Rural Livelihoods Research

Health and Population Research

Commission on Intellectual Property Rights

The Commission on Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR) is an initiative of the UK Government, financed by the Department for International Development (DFID).  It is looking at how national and international intellectual property rules and practices might be improved to take greater account of the needs and interests of poor people and developing countries. Visit the Commission's website here.

Details on the final report by Commission on Intellectual Property Rights are available here.

Enquiries

For any enquiries on research funded by the Central Research department, please contact: researchqueries@dfid.gov.uk 

Back to Top